High-flying Proteas claim victory in opening T20 after Ireland scare

MATCH REPORT

Reeza Hendricks hit his fourth successive Twenty20 fifty as South Africa defeated Ireland by 21 runs in their series opener at Bristol on Wednesday.

Hendricks, who hit three half-centuries in the Proteas' recent 2-1 series win over England, top-scored with 74 in a total of 211-5 and shared a third-wicket partnership of 112 with Aiden Markram (56).

Lorcan Tucker (78) and George Dockrell (43) kept Ireland in the hunt but when the pair were dismissed off consecutive balls their side's hopes of victory went with them.

A target of 37 from the final two overs never looked like being achieved, with Proteas' 'death-bowling' specialist Wayne Parnell proving his worth for all he was hit for six off the last ball off the innings by tailender Barry McCarthy as Ireland finished on 190-9.

Left-arm paceman Parnell returned figures of 2-36, having removed opener Andy Balbirnie, with stand-in Proteas captain Keshav Maharaj taking 2-29 with his left-arm spin and leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi 2-37.

Hendricks's latest fifty came off 32 balls, including seven fours and a six, while Markram got to the landmark in 25 balls including six boundaries.

The pair fell to consecutive deliveries, with leg-spinner Gareth Delany having Markram caught at deep square leg before Hendricks holed out to point.

But Tristan Stubbs - 24 off 11 balls - and Dwaine Pretorius - 21 off seven - ensured the runs kept coming at the end.

South Africa suffered a setback before the match started, with captain David Miller ruled out by a back spasm, with fellow batsman Heinrich Klaasen taking his place in the XI.

Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada had already been sidelined from both matches in a two-game series that concludes in Bristol on Friday with an ankle injury.

- AFP

VICTORY FOR SA 

The Proteas win the first ODI against Ireland by 21 runs in Bristol. 

They did not have it all their own way and Ireland were in the game for most of their chase. 

Lorcan Tucker (78 off 38) gave his side a real chance, but in the end wickets at regular intervals cost Ireland and they finished on 190/9. 

Keshav Maharaj (2/29 in 4), Wayne Parnell (2/36 in 4) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/37 in 4) were the pick of the Proteas bowlers. 

SA, batting first, had carded 211/5 with Reeza Hendricks (74 off 53) and Aiden Markram (56 off 27) leading the charge. 

The second T20 against Ireland takes place on Friday. 

WICKET!

Mix-up there from Ireland, and De Kock whips off the bails from a Klaasen throw from the fence. 

Ire 184/9 (19)

WICKET! 

Slower ball from Ngidi knocks over a swinging Adair. 

Ire 175/8. 

It'll be a win for South Africa, but they did not have it all their own way! 

Ireland need 37 off 12 ...

They can be very pleased with their efforts with the bat here, regardless of what happens. 

WICKET! 

There goes Dockrell, and that's a sharp catch from Markram diving forward from long-off. 

Pretorius has a wicket and Dockrell is gone for 43 (28).

That's surely that! 

WICKET! 

South Africa needed that! Tucker is out for 78 (38). 

He's swept Shamsi, but top-edged and De Kock takes it on the second grab. 

Tucker has given Ireland a chance.

They're 170/6 (17) and need 42 off 18. 

Pretorius finally delivers a good over and SA will take that. 

Ire 155/5 (16) needing 57 off 24

5 OVERS TO GO 

Ireland need 64 off the last 30 balls. It's very much game on! 

Tucker 63* (31)

Dockrell 38* (21)

Pretorius back, and he has been hurt so far today. 

Ire 141/5 (14)

They're on track here and the Proteas need a wicket!

Here comes Ngidi back into the attack. 

GAME ON! 

That's 55* for Tucker off just 25 balls. 

Pretorius is struggling out there and he's gone for 32 off his 2 overs!

Ireland need 82 off 42 and it's on! 

Maharaj finishes another impressive spell. 

He's 2/29 (4)

Ireland need 101 off 48 

106/5 (11)

Ireland are losing wickets at regular intervals, but they're not letting that impact their run rate. They're right on the money in that regard! 

WICKET!

That's another for Maharaj! He's bowled Campher for a second-ball duck! 

Ireland in trouble. 

WICKET! SHAMMO! 

Delany goes on the sweep and misses. That is DEAD in front, to the naked eye at least. 

No review. He's gonezo! LBW. 

Ire 83/4 (8.5)

Tucker (35* off 14) remains the key for Ireland.

He looks like he is a shot a ball at the moment, and he's seeing it well! 

If SA get him out, they'll feel a lot better about things. 

WICKET!

Captain Maharaj back into the attack, and he strikes with his first ball!

Tector tries to clear cover, but picks out Pretorius.

He's gone for 6 (8) and Ireland are 72/3 (7.1). 

The run rate is handsome, but the wickets are falling regularly. 

POWERPLAY DONE

I tell you what, SA need to get rid of Lorcan Tucker (26* off 8) in a hurry. 

Ireland are 67/2, 20 runs ahead of where SA were - 47/2 - at the same stage. 

Game on! 

OUT! 

That's very good from Parnell, who has beaten Stirling and hit him on the pads! 

It's given, but Stirling reviews: 'Hitting, hitting, hitting' says DRS. It's just out!

That's a big wicket. If Ireland were going to do something special here, Stirling was surely going to play a big role. Instead, he's gone for 18 (11). 

NGIDI GOES FOR 17

Lungi Ngidi has just been taken for 17 in his 2nd over, thanks largely to Paul Stirling. 

Ireland up for this. 

39/1 (4)

WICKET! 

Parnell strikes! The Irish skipper Balbirnie has gone after that one, but he can only find Pretorius at mid-on, who makes no mistake. 

He's gone for 14 (13).

Ireland 22/1 (2.4) with it all to do ...

GOOD START FROM IRELAND 

They're 18/0 (2). 

Maharaj starts proceedings for the Proteas and goes for 8 in his opening over. 

Ire 8/0 (1)

INNINGS REPORT

Half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks (74 off 53) and Aiden Markram (56 off 27) launched the Proteas to 211/5 in the first T20 against Ireland in Bristol.

It was Hendricks’ fourth T20I 50 in as many innings and Markram’s third, and together that pair put on 112 runs in 10 overs.

With Markram in full flight, it looked like South Africa were set for an even bigger total, but two wickets in two balls from off-spinner Gareth Delany had the two Proteas danger men removed.

There was a cameo from Tristan Stubbs, too, who bashed 24 (11) before he skyed one trying to force the issue at the back-end of the innings.

Dwaine Pretorius then came in and hit 21* (7) to see the tourists finish strong.

South Africa’s bowling attack will include Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi and stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj as their frontline options.

Scores in brief

SA 211/5 in 20 (Hendricks 74, Markram 56, Delany 2/31)

SA 183/4 (18)

Can Stubbs put on a show here in the last 2 overs?

WICKET! HENDRICKS OUT NEXT BALL! 

That's a sharp catch from Stirling! Delany is on a hat-trick! Hendricks was on the cut, but didn't get hold of it. 

Hendricks out for 74 (53).

Stubbs in now. 

WICKET! MARKRAM GOES! 

That was such a good knock from Markram, who was simply in a different league to the Irish. 

He's eventually chipped one to the leg side fence and is out for 56 (27).

Here comes Klaasen. 

SA 157/3 (15.4) 

50 FOR MARKRAM! 

It's come off just 25 balls and it's his third T20I 50 in as many innings! It's also the century partnership between these two. 

22 OFF THE OVER!

Little will be glad that's over! Markram is looking dangerous and has raced to 48* (23). 

SA 142/2 (14)

Things getting messy for Ireland here ...

SIX! 

Oooph! That's on the road too! Markram looks like he's batting on a different planet right now. 

SIX! 

Markram has just launched Little quite literally out of the ground. He's on the road. Fetch that! New balls, please.

Markam, like Hendricks, is in some VERY good form. 

SA 107/2 (12)

Markram and Hendricks are cruising along nicely here. SA have a lot of depth and they'll be looking at 200. 

10 OVER UPDATE 

SA 82/2 

It's the Hendricks (55*) show so far ...

HENDRICKS 50! 

That is Reeza Hendricks' 4th T20 international half-century in a row! Stunning effort, and he has been VERY good again tonight. 

He's a man in form and making a massive statement ahead of the T20 World Cup. 

SA 76/2 (9)

SA 57/2 (7)

Reeza Hendricks is doing Reeza Hendricks things. He's 35* (25) and just can't stop scoring runs at the moment. 

Commentators curse loading ... 

WICKET! 

Rassie van der Dussen is gone! He's fallen to the off-spinner, looking to reverse sweep and only succeeding in picking out short third man. 

He's gone for 10 (7).

SA 47/2 (6) as Markram joins Hendricks 26* (20) at the crease.

SHOT! 

Rssie van der Dussen comes in and laces his second ball to the fence with the prettiest cover drive you are likely to see. 

OUT! 

De Kock is gone! He's run himself out! De Kock has pushed that to mid-off, and Tector has done superbly well there to gather the ball and release. It's a direct hit, and De Kock is just short and gone for 7 (8). 

SA 23/1 (3.1)

Van der Dussen now in ...

SIX! FOUR! 

Hendricks gets going and he's looking dangerous again! Little goes for 13 in that over and SA are away. 

SA 23/0 (3)

SA 7/0 (1)

Nothing much to report there. Couple of singles, couple of 2s. Nothing explosive. Yet. 

There are not a lot of people at the ground, but that won't matter to the Proteas at all. 

They'll want to keep their momentum going and there are batters who will want to score runs to put their hands up with the T20 World Cup in mind. 

Anthems done, we're good to go. 

TOSS AND TEAMS

The Proteas have won the toss and will have a bat first. 

There are a few changes. 

Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius are all included as four changes are made from the side that beat England in the 3rd T20 on Sunday. 

David Miller is rested while Keshav Maharaj takes over the captaincy. 

Teams:

SA

Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj (c), Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

Ireland

Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Andy McBrine, Josh Little

ICYMI

The Proteas have had a white-ball tour to India confirmed! 

Welcome to our LIVE updates from this evening's opening T20 between Ireland and the Proteas in Bristol. 

Play starts at 19:30 and we will be bringing you the toss and team news as soon as its in. 

The Proteas play two matches against Ireland - the second is on Friday - and both are in Bristol where the boundaries are small and the sixes big! 

South Africa, of course, are flying high after beating England 2-1 in their recently completed series.

Will there be changes to the side? Will we see some new faces?